Call-distributing telephone-exchange details.



S. H. BROWNS. CALL DISTRIBUTING TELEPHONE EXCHANGE DETAILS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1905. RENEWED JULY 18, 1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909 Mbl F 0 mm WW W W .8 ww w P w a 11, Hwy? 9 E 0 .11 a in a mwn v. md; n 7 mm mm I q Hwm km 5 '9 WI iiiisl] mm mm 5m mm a w mm figei 5 b MN. u k 4mm 11 \l u h -[J p .e w I! m .4 .rL "MN w \W Wu .F u n 20a in @3385 mw @744 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

SlDNEY HAND BROWNE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CALL-DISTRIBUTING TELEPHONE EXCI-IANGE DETAILS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed August 3, 1905. Serial No. 272,550. Renewed July 18, 1908. Serial No. 444,178.

tioi. I

il'Iy invention pertains to telephone exchange systems of the class in which each line entering the central otfice is equipped with a switching device which is tosonie extent automatic in its action and to some extent under the control of the substation telephone on that line.

- In this patent application, I shall describe and illustrate, as typical of the class indicated above, a system in which the distributing of all calls is accomplished mechamcally by automatic switches, one ofw 'hich is connected to each telephone line entering the central oilice, there being provided in addition to the automatic call-distributing switches a plurality of trunks leading from the automatic switches'to calling equipments located before telephone operators, the function of the automatic switch associated with each ,telephone line being to select one of these trunks and to connect that telephone 1 line with it, thereby extending that telephoneline'over the selectedftrunk to a calling equipment before a telephon'eoperator, wl .ere the call may be answeredby the telephone operator in the usual manner and the call completed by the insertion of a connecting plug associated with the selected trunk into a ack-associated with the line called .for, the trunk thus selected by the calling line being held throughout the ensuingconnection. as a part of the calling telephone line, and the called line being held by reason of the connection atone of its jacks and its automatic call-distrilmti'ng switch being held inoperative by reason of lie-connection at thejack. I A Y My invention provides, for a switch artly telephone line to which the switch belongs,

' an extension of the control of the substation telephone over the partly automatic switch. and has as its immediate object the delay -of the disconnection of a switch designed to disconnect automatically when t he "substation receiver is hung upon the switch-hook. The necessity for such a provision in such a telephone equ pment in the present state of the art is the custom of the present day to work 7 the switch-hook slowly when the patron at thesubstation telephone desires to attract the attention of the central-oflice operator; in a system, such as I have indicated above, whereconnection with the operator is obtained through a partlyautom atic switch designed to disconnect the telephone line from the operator upon hanging up the re-'. ceiver at the substation telephone of course the customary working of the switch-hook slowly would disconnect the telephone patron from his operatorupon the first. movement of the switch-hook; it is desirable, therefore, in sucha system, that the calling patron, having obtained a connection through a partly automatic switch, should be able to work his switch-hook slowly to attract the purpose, without causing premature disconnection at said partly automatic switch, disconnection being dependent upon the permanent hanging of the recelver upon the SWltClr-llOOk as may be Indicated by an opening of the hook-switch for a period-of, say,

two seconds or more, continuously.

My invention provides for delaying a auction of a partly automatic switch, and provides further a method of adjustment by which the period of delay may he set at any desired value.

Onedrawing accompanies this specification, in which I have shown the essential elements of such a system, and inwvhich I have applied my function-delaying device 't'orthe purpose of delaying the disconncc tion of the c:1ll- (list1'il)r1ti11g switch to permit the calling patron to work his book to A telephone line is'shown at 1 connecting at one end withthe substation telephone 3 'andl'atthe otherend withfthe central ofiice apparatus, which consists of two essentially accessible 'to telephone operators, as the operator at equipment 34;, and (secondyan attract thelattcntion of his operator without disconnection of hisautomatic switch.

equipmentfordistributing calls from the substation telephone to calling equipn'ients movement of armature 102 under tension of before a telephone operator is shown conunder pressure as shown, and a released! position or alternative position in which springs 121 and 121 are isolated and an' electrical connection is made between 122 I and The ratchet 103 andthe first gear of the train 106 are both rigidly tixed to E shaft. 112 and therefore are rigidly tixcdi to 'ether, and the spring-pressed pawl 104 is f at apted to engage the ratchet 10 3; the scape wheel 107 is rigidly fixed to the last gear of the train 106; pallet 108 engages the teeth of scape 107, and weight 10!) is adjustable to regulate the speed of pallet 108. thus regulating adjustably the speed of the gear train 106 and consequently the speed of spring 111. It is the function of magnet 101 to attract armature 102 against the tension of spring 111 and thus to permit the set of contact-springs 121, 12-2, 123, 124, to shift to its released or alternative position; it is the function of the pawl, ratchet, gear train, scape. pallet and weight to retard the re turn of armature 102 when released by mag net 101 and thus to delay the operation of the contact-set 121, 122. 123, 121, by that armature af er release, the period of delay being adjustable by the mass of the weight 100, by the distance from the center of oscillation of the weight 109, by the tension of the spring 111, and by the ratio of the gear train 106. I

A trunk with calling equipment located sisting of fixed-contact-set 82, 21, 22, 23, and a plurality of othen similar sets which are located in other automatic switches, other than 8 but similar to it, belonging to other telephone lines similar to 1; relays 2, 6, 7 and 9; condensers 28 lamps 30 and 31; keys 32 and and plug 25 The operators equipment at 34 is common to a plurality of trunks, as is also the ringing generator 35.

Another telephone line is shown at 40, equipped with its three units of equipment, the substation telephone equipment 41, the call-receiving equipi'nent 1-2, and the calldistributing equipment only a portion of which is shown.

The operation of the system is as follows: \Vhen a patron at substation telephone 3 takes his receiver from the hook, path is given for current from battery 67 through elements 36,19, (the larger portion of the current goes through resistance 18. the lesser portion through the winding of 10') 1,3, 1,37, 3S and ground, energizing relay 10 51nd attracting its armatures; by the attraction of the armatures of relay 19, path is given for cnrrent from battery 67 through elements 3.0, 44, 45, -17, 5, 26, 18, RT, energizing magnet 5 and causing actuation of the dr iving pawl 49 and consequent propulsion ot' fixed contact points or waiting contacts of the automatic switch 8; I will assume that the set of waiting contacts thus engaged is the set 21. 22. 23, and that the trunk eonnected therewith is not busy at the time.

Wiper 1315 thus in electrical contact with waiting contact 'and path is given for current from battery 67 through elements 31), 51, 52, 27, lower winding of 16, 53, 123, 124, 125, 13, 23, 85, S1, 54, 55, 56, 57, 87, enerizing relay 46 and attracting its armatures; hy 'he attraction of the armatures of relay 46, connection is broken between elements 15 and 47, preventing further energization of magnet 55, and current flows from battery 67 through elements 39, H, 45, 50, 24, 00, upperfavindin of 10 and to ground, contin ning the encrgization of relay 16 and pro viding busy-test conditions upon the test rings of the jacks 7 by placing upon them a potential above the earth equal to a portion of the potential of the battery 67; also by the attraction of the armatures of the relay 46, connection is brokenbetween elements 35-36and between elements 37-38, but current immediately flows through relay 19, without releasing that relays armatures, from battery 67 over a path comprising elements 58, 61, left-hand winding of 6, 62, 22, 12, 72, 36, 1e, 1, 3, 1, 37,71, 11, 21, 03, right-.

relay 6 and attracting its armatures; the attraction of the armature 65 of the relay 6 has permitted current to flow from battery 67-through elements 58, 30, 66, 68, 65, 64', 87,

before the operator at 34; the attraction of armature 55 of relay 6 has interrupted the circuit previously existing for current from battery 67 =through elements 30, 51, 52, 27, lower winding of 46, 53, 123, 124, 125, 13, 23, 85,84, 54, 55, 56, 57, 87, but the energization of relay 46 is continued by reason of current flowing from battery 67 through conductor 60 over the path comprising elements 3!), 4t. 45, 59, 24, 00, upper winding of "10 and ground; the breaking of the connection to ground by separation of elements 51-55 has placed the busy-test condition on test contact 23 and its multiples; the attraction of armature 55 of relay 6 also has closed its contact and permitted current to flow from battery 67 through elei'nents 58, 8S, left-hand winding of 2, 8t), 55, 56, 57, 87, energizing relay 2, attracting its armatures and intronally attending-between test contact 23 and ground, by the separation ,of-elements 84 and $5. The attraction of the armature of relay '2 resulhs in the closing of connection between elementsRGand 00, giving path for current from battery 67 through elements 58, 88, 86, QGFright-lmnd winding of 2, resistance 01, 82, 8'3, and ground, the energization of relay the radial terminals or wipers, 83, 11, 12. 13, into electrical connection with the first set of '2 being therea tter continuedby current fl0wcausing lamp 30 to glow as a calling signal dncing anotlieigbreak in the conductor origiv hand winding of 6, 64, 87, thus energizing 44, 81. 17 to the release magnet t. whence the circuit extends by conductor 82 to the open sonta ctgspring 121. it. now, the telehoao receiver at the substation telephone 3 as been hung upon the switch-hook permaneatly. then the armature .102 will continue to more under the retarding influence of the gear train, scape. and pallet until it engages and operates the contact-set 121. 1122, 1'33. 124, thus completing the circuit from buttery (37 through elements 39, 4-4. 81. 17, 1, 82, 1'21, .122, and ground, energizing release magnet 1 and permitting the automatic switch 8 to return to its position of rest and open the off-normal switch 17, interrupting the releasing circuit just described. All

, parts thus have been restored to their original positions of rest, assuming that it was the calling patrons desire to etiect disconnection and resto'ation of his automatic equipment. If, however, the calling patron sure of the contact-springs 121-122, the

substation-telephone hook-switch would have been closed and path would have been given for current from battery 67 through elements 35, 36, 19, 1, 3, 1, 37, 38, and ground,- eneugizing relay l9, attracting its armatures and establishing atcircuit from battery (37 through elements 39, 51, 52, 27, lower winding of 16, 53, 123, 122-, and ground, energizing relay 46, and that relay by the attraction ofits armatures again establishes the circuit from battery 67 through elements 58, 61, left-hand winding of ti, (32, 22, 12, 72, 36, 1.9, 1, 3, 1, 37,71,11, 21, 63, right-hand winding of 6, (54, 87, energizing relay 6 and extinguishing lamp 30; thus the temporary operation of the substation-telephone hook-switch at telephone 3 has resulted in a eorrespond-,, ingly temporary flash of the lamp 30 before the operator handling'the call, and as the rccnergizatiou of relays 19 and 46 has re sulted in the reenergizatiou of magnet 101 before armature 102 had closed contactsprings 121l22, such temporary conditions have not resulted in disconnection of the antomatic switch 8; this llashing'may be repeated as frequently as desired, the connection to the operator being maintained by reason of the function-delaying device 100.

If, when the call was made from substation-telephone 3, the first trunk tested had been found busy,the relay 2 would have been found energized and no circuit would have existed for current from battery ('37 through elements 39, 51, 52, 27, 40, 53, 123, 12-1, 125. 13, 23, etc., so relay 46 would not have been energized; then the progress of interrupter 26 would have interrupted the current flowing through magnet 5, releasing the armatl-ne of magnet 5, and when in the further progress of interrupter 26 the circuit through magnet 5 was again closed, the wipers 11, 12, 13, 83, would be stepped forward into contact with the next set of waiting contacts, pertaining to the next trunk in order, and so repeating and progressing from trunk to trunk until a non-busy trunk was found, the non-busy condition being evidenced by the circuit existing between waiting contact 23 of that trunk and ground, by reason of relays 2, G and 7 all being in released condition, and the consequent circuit existing to ground from battery 07 through relay -16, etc., resulting in the energization of relay 4G and the consequent operations as already described. Thus it is seen that with the circuits here shown, any automatic switch conforming to the general requirements outlined-for switch 8 will test successively the trunks available to it, passing the busy ones and selecting and connecting its associated telephone'line to the first n0n-' busy trunk, assuming that trunk as an extension to the associated telephone line and holding that trunk free from interruption throughout the duration of the ensuing connection.

The relay 19 may be named a because its winding is permanently and d1- rectly associated with a line conductor.

Magnet 101, armature 102, and contactset 121, 122-, 123, 124, in combination, constitute a. relay; by 'reasqn of the pawl, ratchet, gears andescap'eni'ent constituting an adjunct to that relay-s armature 102, the whole device 100 may-be referred to as a relay constructed to have a delaying function in addition to the usual relaying function.

While a gear train and escapement have been shown in the drawings as an illustration of delayin means for tho armature 102 of the delay relliy 100, it is obvious that an of the well known retarding devices, suc as a dash-potfan wheel, brake wheel, or the like, may be substituted without in any way departing from the spirit of .my invention.

I do not wish to limit myself to immaterial details set forth in this description, as I understand that many variations may be made in the ule of these circuits and apparatus without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

v .1. In a telephone system, a telephone line having substation apparatus; an automatic ioo switch associated with said telephone line; a circuit for efiectlng restoration ol said automatie switch to its normal position of rest;

; electric energy, contacts of saul first relay 2. function-delaying device adapted by operating for a predetermined period of time to render said restoring circuit effective; and means responsive to actuation of a part or" said substation apparatus for efiecting the startin of the o )eration of said functioni b l delaying device, and also responsive to subsequent actuation of said part, at any time prior to the expiration of said predetermined period or time, to arrest the operation of said function-delayingdevice, substantially as described.

2. In a telephone system, a telephone line having substation apparatus including 'a hook-switch for the receiver" a plurality of trunks; an automatic switch. associated with sai'djtelephone line and adapted, in response to movement ot said hook-switch, to connect said telephone line with a disengaged trunk; a' circuit for effecting restoration of said automatic switch to its normal position of rest; a function-delaying device adapted, by operating for a redetermined period of time, to render s aid restoring circuit effect- ,ive; and means responsive to movement of said hook-switch for eliecting the starting.

of said functiomdelaying device, and also hooloswitch, at any time prior to the exp1ration oi said predetermined period of time,-

relay; and a circuit including the winding of said restoring magnet, a source of electric energy, and the contacts of said delay relay, substantially as described.

5. In a telephone system, the combination of a switch; a magnet controlling the rcsto ation of said switch to its normal position oi rest; a substation telcplwne; a line relay governed by said substation telephone; a delay relay; a circuit including a source of electric energy, said restoring magnet and the contacts of said delay relay; and another circuit including a source of electric energy, 60-

- said delay relay, substantiall described.

contacts of said line relay and the win ing or 6. In a telephone system, the combination of a switch; a magnet controlling said switch; a relay controlled over telephone line; a delay relay; a circuit including source of el ctric energy, said control] magnet and the contacts of said delay relay; and a second circuit including a source ct of said delay relay; and another circuit in;

cluding a source of electric energy, contacts of said first relay-and a winding of said delay relay, substantially described.

8. in a telephone system, the combination of a switch; an electromagnet governing the restoration of said switch to its position of rest; a substation telephone; a line relay controlled by said substation telephone; a second relay; a circuit including a source of electric energy, said restoration-g0vcrning electromagnct and contacts ot' said. second relay; another circuit including a source of electric energy, contacts of said line relay and the winding of said second relay; and means associated with the armature of said second relay and adapted to retard the same in ellfecting the operation of its contacts consequent upon proper change of energization responsive to subsequent movement of saidof the core of that relay, substantially described. I

9. In a telephone system, the combination of a switch; an elcrtromagnet governing the restoration of said switch to its position of rest; a substation telephone; a line relay controlled by said substation telephone; a second relay the armature of which is adapted, upon deencrgization of the relay, to return to a position of rest and thereby close contacts of said relay; a circuit includiug a source of electric energy, said restora tion-g'cverning elcctromagnet and said con tacts of said second relay; another including a source of electric current, con tacts of said line relay and the winding of said second relay; and retarding moans associated with the armature of said second rclay and adapted to retard the same in resaid second relay; and means associated with the armature of said second relay whereby that armature may be retarded in its movement, substantial y as described.

11. lea a telephone system, the combination of switch; a magnet controlling said circuit 7 switch; a firstrelay controlled over a teleswitch; a first relay hone line; a second relay;1a circuit includmg a source of electric energy, said controlling magnet and'contacts or said second relay;, a second circuit including a source of electric energy, contacts of said first relay and a. winding of said second relay; and means associated with the armature of said second relay and adapted to retard the same in eflecting the operation of its contacts consequent upon proper change of energization of the core of said relay, substantially as described. v

12. In a telephone system, the combination" of a switch; a magnet controlling said controlled over a telephone line; asecon relay; a circuit includmg a source of electric ener y, said controlling magnet and contacts 0 said second relay; a second circuit containing a source of electric energy, contacts of said first relay and a; winding of said second relay; and

means associated with the armature of said' second relay and adapted to retard the same in its return to its 'position of rest to etl'ect the operatfan of the contacts of that relay consequent upon the cessation of current through the winding thereof, substantially as described.

13. In a telephone system, the combination of a switch; a magnet controlling said switch; a first relay controlled over a telephone line; a second relay; a circuit including a source of electric energy, said controlling magnet and contacts or said second relay; a second circuit including a source of electric energy, contacts of said first relay and a winding of said second relay; and means associated with the armature of said second relay and adapted to retard the same in its movement, substantially as described.

14. In a telephone system, the combination of a switch; an electromagnet governing the movement of said switch; a first relay;

a second relay; a circuit including a source of electric energy, said governing magnet and contacts of said second relay; another circuit including a source of electric energy, contacts of said first relay and a winding of said second relay; and means associated with the armature of said second relay and adapted ,to retard the same in closing its contacts, substantially as described.

15. In a telephone system, the combination of a switch; an electrOmagnetcontrolling the restoration of said switch to its position of rest; a' substatiozrtelephone; line relay controlled by said substation telephone;

"a second /relay; a circuit including a source .of elect/tic energy, said restoration-controlling electromagnet and contacts of said second relay; another circuit including a source of'electric energy, contacts of said line relay and a winding of said second relay; and a ratchet, gear train, scape and pallet associated with the armature of said second relay and adapted to retard the motion of that armature, substantially as described.

16. In a telephone system, the combination of a switch; a magnet controlling said switch; a first relay controlled .over a telephone line; a second relay; a circuit including a source ofenergy, said controlling magnet aud contacts of said second relay; a second circuit containing a source of electric energy, contacts of said first relay and a winding of said second relay; and a ratchet, gear train, scape and pallet associated with the armature of said second relay and adapted to retard the motion of that armature, substantially as described. 17. In a telephone system the combination of a switch; an electromagnet governing the movement of said switch; a first relay; a

second relay; a circuit including a source of electric energy, said governing magnet and contacts of said second relay; a second circuit including a source of electric energy, con tacts of said first relay and a winding of said second relay; and a ratchet, gear train, scape and pallet associated with the armature of said second relay and adapted to retard the motion of that relay, substantially as described.

18. In a telephone system, a telephone line having substation apparatus; an automatic switch associated with said telephone line; a circuit for effecting restoration of said automatic switch to its normal position of rest; a function-delaying device adapted by operating for a predetermined period of time to render-said restoring circuit effective; means responsive to actuation of a part of said substation apparatus for effecting the starting of the operation of said function-delaying nevice, and also responsive to subsequent actuation of said part, at any time prior to the expiration of said predetermined period of time, to arrest the operation of said functiorhdelaying device; and means associated with said function-delaying device adjustable to vary said predetermined period of time, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Cape May city, county of Cape May, State of New Jersey, in the presence of two witnesses.

SIDNEY HAND BROXVNE.

\Vitnesses I'IEKRY H. ELnnnnGn, HENRY C. THOMPSON. 

